U.S. MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 17, 2022

Hugh Foley

Erin Hills

Quick Quotes

HUGH FOLEY: I made a late charge there, decent back nine. Must have been 3-under back nine there, so that's kind of like -- what was I, 3- or 4-down? I thought maybe 3- or 4-under back nine might have a chance, but he held on great. That birdie on 12 was really, really good. Almost put the nail in the coffin. That's when I had a little bit of a run and freed up. But he held up great with those pars there at the finish. Yeah, he deserved it today.

Q. You lose to a buddy versus losing to somebody you don't know very well; what stings worse?

HUGH FOLEY: I don't know. No, I think it doesn't make any difference, really. You just want to win no matter who you're playing. We played a great game, fair game. But you're always trying to just win the match, win the championship. Matt did that. Doesn't feel any different.

But I'm happy for him.

Q. You got off to a tough start this morning. I guess you had to take an unplayable, three bogeys on that first nine. Was it just getting up early or was it something else in your swing? Did you figure it out toward the end of this match?

HUGH FOLEY: No, nothing I could pinpoint. Just wasn't quite as good. The first few rounds I was really good, 5-under in the stroke play, and then 4-under in both my first two matches. Just felt like all my best golf was there. I think I was 15-under through four rounds.

Q. The bunker shot on 9, kind of wound up close --

HUGH FOLEY: Yeah, I felt like I got a few bad breaks, but that's all right, I've had a lot of good breaks this year, including a couple against Matt and a couple against other guys. Matt deserves it. It's golf. Eventually it comes back, and to get here was pretty special.

I didn't feel like I deserved it today, but I gave it a go.

Q. You want to stay amateur through next summer to try to make the Walker Cup team? Is that kind of the goal?

HUGH FOLEY: Yeah, that's one of the goals. But regardless, I think that's where I feel I need another year experience, gain more experience, get more golf under my belt, and then enter the professional ranks.

Q. You're exempt for the U.S. Amateur next year at Cherry Hills. Do you think you'll come over for that?

HUGH FOLEY: Definitely. We saw that last night, so we're definitely going to come over for that, yeah, 100 percent.

Q. Last night was it fun? Did you guys just relax?

HUGH FOLEY: It was actually fine. I was pretty grumpy playing and didn't play great last night and took five minutes and then we were just normal again. Business as usual. We just chilled out, had some steak and saw that there was a little feature on The Golf Channel. That was fun, and then it was business as usual. This morning, all good driving together. It went okay basically.

Q. When do you guys go home?

HUGH FOLEY: I'm going home tomorrow night. He's staying for a week in Chicago with his girlfriend.

Q. So you guys aren't flying home together?

HUGH FOLEY: No. I'm ready to go, yeah, definitely.

Q. What's next for you?

HUGH FOLEY: There's a 36-hole event for a European Tour spot at Le Golf National. That's next Monday.

Q. At the French Open?

HUGH FOLEY: A spot at the Mallorca Open, I think, but apart from that Concession Cup --

Q. The Concession Cup is at Valderrama, correct?

HUGH FOLEY: Yes.